Meteorologists call it the “Pineapple Express…or Connection” and it could lead to rapid snowmelt and flooding if it hits the Sierra.

State water officials say they aren't too worried about a warm
spring leading to a rush of snowmelt. But the state Department of
Water Resources' Chief Hydrologist Maury Roos says there is another
threat…

"The worst thing that could happen would be one of what we call
these rain-on-snow storms sweeping in from the warmer parts of the
Pacific - sometimes called the "Pineapple Connection..."

…or "Pineapple Express". That's what happened on New Year's Day
1997 when a series of tropical storms led to flooding in
Sacramento.

But Roos says local levees should be able to handle a potential
rush of snowmelt.

"There's been a lot of work going into levee maintenance and
improvement in the past 10-15 years. So I really think that overall
they're in better shape than they were for the last big flood."

Roos says the department will be working closely with reservoir
operators who can then adjust amounts of water storage if need
be.